A former professor of H K Arts College and president of India Chapter of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Pathak passed away today at 4 pm, said a statement by Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD).

Born in 1933, she was an active member of MSD and vice-president of Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties' (PUCL).

Pathak played a key role in movement for justice to the victims of 2002 Gujarat riots, movement against Patan P T C College gangrape incident, etc. She also supported Manipur's Irom Sharmila's agitation against Armed Forces Special Powers' Act (AFSPA).